Jaycee Dugard and daughters to be reunited with pets

Just more proof that a happy ending is never truly happy without the inclusion of a few well-mannered furballs…

Nick Ut/AP

Jaycee Lee Dugard in 1991.

After being kidnapped and stashed away in a backyard compound for 18 years, Jaycee Dugard (now 29) and her daughters (Starlit, 15, and Angel, 11) are preparing for a happy homecoming with their furry family members.

According to People.com, a menagerie of pets was confiscated from Phillip Garrido’s house following his August 26 arrest on kidnapping and rape charges, including five cats, two dogs, three cockatiels, a pigeon, some white mice and a parakeet.

Animal control officials report that while some of the mice didn’t make it (only one is still alive), the other pets are all in tail-wagging (or wing-flapping) good health.

“We’ve been going the extra mile, socializing with the cats and taking the dogs for walks. They are all very friendly animals, and you can tell they were well-cared for and never tormented,” Lt. Nancy Anderson of the Contra Costa County animal shelter told People.

“There was never a question of them going up for adoption unless (Jaycee) indicated she didn’t want them back,” Anderson said. “But that’s not the case. I think there’s going to be another happy reunion for the family.”

Although Jaycee has said she definitely wants her pets back, it’s still unclear exactly when the reunion will happen.